2015 Chevrolet Equinox Quick Spin Review

The 2015 Chevrolet Equinox—fresh from a sixth straight year of marketplace growth—looks to extending its winning streak by adding another special advantage for today’s modern families: a mobile wi-fi hotspot with 4G LTE connectivity, perfect for keeping folks infotained while on the road. It’s good news for potential Bowtie buyers, since the Equinox already checked off most of the boxes in its segment, with versatility enhancers ranging from a “MultiFlex” sliding rear seat to all-wheel drive, while remaining competitively priced, too.

Styling

The Equinox rocks a noticeably larger footprint than many of its rivals, and it makes the most of that size with a dominating front grille, a multi-dimensional hood and wheels up to 19 inches in size. But that boldness is further complemented by some particularly dynamic rear roof pillars for a distinctly athletic appearance, as well as upscale cues like the metallic “spear” accent for the available fog lights. Chrome-accent packages also are available and, specifically for the 2015 model year, Chevy stylists also have introduced “Blue Velvet Metallic” and “Sea Grass Metallic” to the list of available exterior colors.

Inside, the cabin combines driver-delighting details like sporty tach and speedometer gauges with premium cues like two-tone seating in cloth, premium fabric and perforated leather and ice-blue ambient lighting.

Performance

The 2015 Chevy Equinox comes with a standard six-speed automatic transmission and 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine, which combine for 182 hp, 172 lb.-ft. of torque and EPA ratings of 22 mpg city/32 mpg highway/26 mpg combined. When configured with this powertrain and the available AWD setup, the Equinox’s fuel-economy grades come to 20 mpg city/29 mpg highway/23 mpg combined.

Additionally, drivers can power-up to a 3.6-liter V6 to enjoy 301 hp and 272 lb.-ft. of torque, and it’s worth noting that, although the bigger engine does decrease fuel-economy across the board, it also enables a max tow rating of 3,500 lbs.

Safety

Occupant protection is an especially important factor for the many families shopping in this segment, and they’ll find the Equinox offering proactive safety systems like forward collision alert, lane-departure warning, rear park-assistance and a rear-vision camera. Backed by those benefits—and a body structure that boasts plenty of high-strength steel, the 2015 Chevrolet Equinox has been rated as a Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

Pricing and Features

Pricing for the 2015 Chevrolet Equinox begins at $24,520, as the Equinox LS comes right from the factory with 17-inch wheels, Bluetooth connectivity, active noise cancellation, six months of the basic OnStar “Directions & Connections” service, and the MultiFlex seating system that allows the second row to slide fore and aft by 10 inches to maximize either second-row legroom and child-seat capabilities or rear cargo space.

The MSRPs for the 1LT ($26,170), 2LT ($28,170), and LTZ ($31,920) trim levels reflect their increasingly well-equipped positions in the lineup. Among the content highlights are that OnStar 4G LTE system, able to connect up to seven devices to the internet and deliver blazing connectivity speeds, along with Siri Eyes Free capability (for compatible iPhones), text-messaging assistance, premium Pioneer audio, a Chevy MyLink infotainment hub, Nuance-powered voice control, navigation, eight-way power-adjustable and heated front seats, a power programmable rear liftgate, and a dual-DVD rear-seat entertainment system.